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Penshurst is a historic village and civil parish located in a valley upon the northern slopes of the Kentish Weald, at the confluence of the
River Medway The River Medway is a river in South East England. It rises in the High Weald AONB, High Weald, East Sussex and flows through Tonbridge, Maidstone and the Medway conurbation in Kent, before emptying into the Thames Estuary near Sheerness, a to ...
and the River Eden, within the Sevenoaks district of Kent, England. The village is situated between the market town of Tonbridge and the spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, some south of Sevenoaks. Penshurst and its neighbouring village, Fordcombe, recorded a combined population of some 1,628 at the 2011 Census. The majority of the parish falls within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the village is itself a conservation zone, with controls on the landscape ensuring the protection of its woodland and fields. There are several listed buildings in the village. The village is the home of two historic estates. Penshurst Place, formerly owned by
King Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disag ...
, sits at the centre of the village in the valley, while
Swaylands Swaylands is a private parkland estate set high upon the Weald, Kentish Weald, on the edge of the village of Penshurst in the Sevenoaks District, Sevenoaks district of Kent, England. The Estate is situated between the market town of Tonbridge a ...
is situated at the top of Rogues Hill on the outskirts of the village.


History

The village grew up around Penshurst Place, the ancestral home of the Sidney family. There are many Tudor-looking buildings in the village, although some are
Victorian Victorian or Victorians may refer to: 19th century * Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign ** Victorian architecture ** Victorian house ** Victorian decorative arts ** Victorian fashion ** Victorian literature ...
. Henry Stafford the first Baron Stafford was born here in 1501. The ''Leicester Arms'', once part of the Penshurst Estate, was owned by
Sir William Sidney Sir William Sidney (1482?–1554) was an English courtier under Henry VIII and Edward VI. Life He was eldest son of Nicholas Sidney, by Anne, sister of William Brandon (standard-bearer), Sir William Brandon. In 1511 he accompanied Thomas Darcy, ...
, grandfather of poet and statesman Sir Philip Sidney. His other grandson, the Viscount De L’isle, was appointed Earl of Leicester in 1618 and it was shortly after this that The Leicester Arms, formerly known as The Porcupine, was renamed in his honour. The pub and hotel is now owned privately.
Penshurst railway station Penshurst railway station is on the Redhill to Tonbridge Line and is located approximately two miles north of Penshurst in Kent, in the village of Chiddingstone Causeway in England. It is measured from via . History Penshurst station was ope ...
, on the Tonbridge to Redhill railway line, is some north of the village, at the hamlet of
Chiddingstone Causeway Chiddingstone Causeway is a village west of Tonbridge in Kent, England. It is within the Sevenoaks local government district. It is in the civil parish of Chiddingstone. The village is served by Penshurst Station on the Redhill to Tonbridge Li ...
. Penshurst Airfield was located close to the station, but within the parish of
Leigh Leigh may refer to: Places In England Pronounced : * Leigh, Greater Manchester, Borough of Wigan ** Leigh (UK Parliament constituency) * Leigh-on-Sea, Essex Pronounced : * Leigh, Dorset * Leigh, Gloucestershire * Leigh, Kent * Leigh, Staf ...
. It opened in 1916 as a military airfield, and served as a civil airfield from 1919-36. It was reopened as RAF Penshurst in 1940, and closed in 1946. To the south of the village, within the parish, are the settlements of Saint's Hill and Smart's Hill.


Penshurst Place

Penshurst Place is a 14th century manor house built in 1341. The 2,500 acre estate, once the property of
King Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disag ...
, was left to his son King Edward VI and granted to
Sir William Sidney Sir William Sidney (1482?–1554) was an English courtier under Henry VIII and Edward VI. Life He was eldest son of Nicholas Sidney, by Anne, sister of William Brandon (standard-bearer), Sir William Brandon. In 1511 he accompanied Thomas Darcy, ...
in 1552. The Sidney family have been in continuous occupation for more than 460 years since. The house and its extensive gardens are now open to the public. The historic banqueting hall at Penshurst Place has been used as a filming location for many Hollywood films, including ''
The Secret Garden ''The Secret Garden'' is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in book form in 1911, after serialisation in ''The American Magazine'' (November 1910 – August 1911). Set in England, it is one of Burnett's most popular novels and ...
'' and ''
The Other Boleyn Girl ''The Other Boleyn Girl'' (2001) is a historical novel written by British author Philippa Gregory, loosely based on the life of 16th-century aristocrat Mary Boleyn (the sister of Anne Boleyn) of whom little is known. Inspired by Mary's life s ...
'', as well as the BBC television series ''
Merlin Merlin ( cy, Myrddin, kw, Marzhin, br, Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and le ...
'' and '' Wolf Hall''.BBC Merlin filming locations
The ancient historic parkland provides scenic walks to many visitors each year, contributing significantly to Penshurst's tourism industry. The two walking trails across the estate - the Parkland and the Riverside Walks, both take in part of the Eden Valley walk. With over 7 miles of the Rivers Medway and Eden flowing through the Estate, and several lakes, both game and coarse fishing are popular at Penshurst Place.


St John the Baptist Church

The parish church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, is one of the two churches in the civil parish. The Grade I listed church houses many memorials and tombs, including those of a Viceroy of India, two
Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...
s and two winners of the Victoria Cross.St John the Baptist, Penshurst: History
accessed 22 July 2015


Notable residents

* The Sidney family of Penshurst Place, including ** Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586), poet, courtier, scholar, and soldier of the Elizabethan era ** William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle (1909–1991),
Governor-General of Australia The governor-general of Australia is the representative of the monarch, currently King Charles III, in Australia.Hardinge family, including **
Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...
Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge (1785–1856), British Army officer and politician ** Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst (1858–1944), Viceroy of India **
Frances Hardinge Frances Hardinge (born 1973) is a British children's writer. Her debut novel, '' Fly By Night'', won the 2006 Branford Boase Award and was listed as one of the ''School Library Journal'' Best Books. Her 2015 novel '' The Lie Tree'' won the 201 ...
(b 1973), author * Arthur Henry Dallimore (b 1873), New Zealand Pentecostal minister and British-Israelite * George Drummond of Drummonds Bank * Sandy Gall, a former ITN newscaster


References


External links


Penshurst Parish Council

Historic images of Penshurst

"Discover-the-Garden-of-England" - the section on Penshurst
{{authority control Villages in Kent Civil parishes in Kent